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Friday, August 1, 2014

Gratitude: Journaling

In the three
months leading up to opening Boho Cycle Studio, I kept a journal in my Evernote
app on my phone. It was a crazy time full of highs and lows. I spent my days
working my full time job, nights and weekends meeting with contractors,
interviewing instructors, building a website, fighting with City Hall for
permits, creating marketing materials, networking with Richmond influencers,
and all the million other things that I have blocked out of my mind only to be
rediscovered when we go through all of that again for location number 2. There
were days when I would hit the pillow feeling like I conquered the world and
days when I could see no light at the end of my pity party of a tunnel.

The journal
was a way to keep myself sane and document my process. It became my release and
the only way I could fall asleep some nights. I would write something about my
day, what I accomplished both in the world of Boho, work, and my personal life.
I would vent about what was stressing me, keep track of the big wins, and then
at the end every entry I would remind myself of something I was grateful for.

Even on the
days that I barely made it through, the last thought I had before going to
sleep was something I was happy to have in my life, a moment of gratitude. It
was amazing the relaxing and releasing effect that exercise had on me.

Some of the
things I wrote in my journal that I was grateful for:

“My husband
who is too good for me, but somehow likes me anyway”

“My snuggly kitties”

“My friends
who always tell me the truth”

“The feeling
that exciting things are in my future because I put them there”

“The fact
that I live in a place where people are doing and changing and sharing ideas”

“Creative
people in the world who inspire me”

“My family,
who might be far away, but so incredibly supportive”

There were
so many more, and many on repeat. I was thankful for my husband a lot since he
was picking up the slack at home, so I could gallivant around town trying to
get small business up and running. Looking back it all seems a blur, but a happy one since the end
of every entry was something wonderful.

If you are
stressed, confused, or just bored, I absolutely recommend this as a way to feel
better. Every night for the next 30 days, right before you go to sleep, write down 1 thing that you are
happy to have.